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How to Unclog a Drain Without Chemicals

How to unplug drain

A clogged drain is one of the annoying house repairs any homeowner dreads. Whether it be your sink, bathtub or toiler, a clogged drain isn’t always as simple as it looks. We are here to tell you how to unclog a drain without chemicals and happily watch that water flow freely and quickly.

Clogged drains are too much trouble. It requires immediate attention because you will have a flood on your hands if not addressed. Although it’s not always fun to unclog a drain, you must know a few tricks to clear it without calling a plumber. Luckily, we have the easy steps for you.

Pour hot, boiling water. 

When you see that water’s not flowing continuously, the first thing to do is pour boiling water into the drain. If it gets unclogged, then that means that the cause of the blockage is only grease or anything that hot water can easily dissolve.

Keep in mind that this step only works if your pipes are metal. PVC pipes can soften or even melt if the water temperature is over 175 degrees. If you’re not aware of what your pipes are, pour hot, not boiling, water.

Baking Soda & Vinegar

Know how to make a home cleaner with inexpensive things that you readily have. Baking soda and vinegar are the only things you need to unclog your drain. If you are trying to unclog your sink or bathtub, pour half a cup of that baking soda. Subsequently, pour vinegar into the drain. The vinegar will fizz and create a bubble, so have a cover ready to ensure that all that fizzing happens only in the pipes.

However, it is going to be a different approach to toilets. Once you have all that baking soda and vinegar in there, immediately flush it with water. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then start rinsing with hot water.

An Alka-Seltzer can also work but is not as powerful.

Plunger

If none of the steps work, it’s time to bring the plumber’s helper – the plunger. For sinks and bathtubs, you can use cup plungers. Before plunging, cover the overflow drain so that no water will escape through your sink or bathtub’s overflow drain. If, by any chance, you don’t have any plunger, you can use an empty milk or juice carton. Just place it upside down, then squeeze.

Cup plungers are not the best tool for toilets, though. You would want a flange or a toilet plunger, which you can purchase at any hardware store. Before plunging, ensure that the plunger is placed perfectly on the drain opening and sealed properly.

Snake

If the drain still doesn’t clear, you must snake it. You can use a bent wire coat hanger or buy a snake from your department store. The homemade snake is only for slight clogs and is light duty. If you know that you have to clear more and that the clog is way down there, buying a snake or a handheld drain auger would be best.

Professional Plumber

If you still end up with a toilet, sink or bathtub that you cannot use after doing all these, then your best bet is to call your trusted plumber or HVAC contractor. You may have a clog that is beyond your snake’s reach or other tools.